Andy Reid

Andy Reid is a football player, a 265-pound senior from Marshall High, and he is sitting in the office of legendary USC Coach John McKay. McKay is telling him that he just isn't good enough to be a Trojan. "So what do I do?" Reid asks. "What do I do to make it here?" "You play for a couple years at Glendale College," McKay says. "One of our former players, Mike Scarpace, is the offensive line coach there. He'll whip you into shape." Reid goes to Glendale. He'll do anything to play for USC.

Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid on Wednesday addressed last week's report in The Times , citing two unnamed sources, that the Eagles were interested in signing Peyton Manning, and that Reid threatened to walk away from his job if he didn't get more personnel control. As he did in a press release Friday, Reid emphasized that "Mike's my guy," in reference to quarterback Michael Vick, and that he has had personnel control "over the years. " "I've got the final say," he said.

A future Hall of Fame quarterback donning the uniform of a bitter enemy and coming back to face his old team . . . Can you imagine? Troy Aikman can. Because it almost happened with him. Seven years ago -- back when Brett Favre was firmly entrenched as the leader of the Green Bay Packers -- Aikman, a Dallas Cowboys icon, almost came out of retirement to play for the hated Philadelphia Eagles. Aikman, now a Fox color analyst who will be in the booth for today's Vikings-Packers game, said nothing he can recall is quite like this homecoming.

Barring any setbacks, Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick , who sat out the last three games because of cartilage damage in his rib cage, is expected back and will start against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 7, Eagles Coach Andy Reid said. In fact, Reid expects the Eagles to be as healthy as they possibly can be when they return from the bye week. "I'm feeling better. I think I'll be fine," Vick said after Sunday's 37-19 loss to Tennessee. Kevin Kolb filled in for Vick and was 2-1, beating San Francisco and Atlanta before the loss to the Titans.

With two sons locked in a drug-induced spiral, and a judge having labeled his home a "drug emporium," Andy Reid faces what looks like an incredibly difficult decision: Should he stay or go? The second-worst thing he could do is stay on as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The worst thing he could do is step down.

'I won't be one of them. I'm going to wear what I wear.' Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles coach, on whether he will wear a suit Sunday, as two head coaches will

'I weighed myself this morning, and I'm the same weight I was last week.' Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagle coach, when asked whether the Terrell Owens situation had weighed heavily on him

Andy Reid is being peppered with questions about whether to bench an injured and ineffective Donovan McNabb. The only topic Reid wants to put to rest is McNabb's status as the starting quarterback. "There is nobody who wants to win more than Donovan McNabb. I don't worry about that at all," Reid said Monday. "He's going to keep firing and he's going to be fine."

PHILADELPHIA -- Andy Reid is digging in. The Philadelphia Eagles coach insisted he will not resign Friday, a day after a judge sentenced Reid's two sons to prison and likened his home to a "drug emporium." Asked whether he intended to stay on the job, a steely-eyed Reid delivered a stern, one-word answer: "Yes." At least one of his peers thought that may not be the best approach.

Kevin Kolb has dealt with angry, frustrated Philadelphia Eagles fans before. They felt free to voice their opinions to him. They had the number to his cellphone. And it didn't bother him a bit. Those fans, you see, were Kolb's buddies from back home in Texas. And in truth, they were more perplexed than steamed. They wanted to see Kolb get a job as a starting NFL quarterback, and they couldn't see the future in him backing up Eagles fixture Donovan McNabb, who had taken the franchise to five NFC title games and a Super Bowl.

Kevin Kolb has dealt with angry, frustrated Philadelphia Eagles fans before. They felt free to voice their opinions to him. They had the number to his cellphone. And it didn't bother him a bit. Those fans, you see, were Kolb's buddies from back home in Texas. And in truth, they were more perplexed than steamed. They wanted to see Kolb get a job as a starting NFL quarterback, and they couldn't see the future in him backing up Eagles fixture Donovan McNabb, who had taken the franchise to five NFC title games and a Super Bowl.

Even without a Lombardi Trophy to his name, Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid has a resume that's plenty gaudy. He has led the Eagles to the playoffs seven times, five NFC championship games, and to a Super Bowl. Since joining the team in 1999, he has won 115 games and built a .611 winning percentage, both club records. And now, as he prepares for a pivotal game tonight at the New York Giants, he has the security of knowing he's wanted. The Eagles gave him a three-year contract extension last week, a deal that reportedly pays him between $5 million and $6 million a season.

It's billed as the city too busy to hate, so it will be interesting to see whether Atlanta has any love for former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick . Once the city's biggest star, Vick spent 18 months behind bars for his role in a dogfighting ring, before being signed by the Eagles, who visit the Georgia Dome on Sunday. "I'm sure there will be some emotions there," Eagles Coach Andy Reid said. "Some experiences that he goes back through and thinks about. I know he has a lot of close friends in Atlanta on the team and the front-office people and so on. . . . But he's worked through some emotional situations and done pretty good with them.

A future Hall of Fame quarterback donning the uniform of a bitter enemy and coming back to face his old team . . . Can you imagine? Troy Aikman can. Because it almost happened with him. Seven years ago -- back when Brett Favre was firmly entrenched as the leader of the Green Bay Packers -- Aikman, a Dallas Cowboys icon, almost came out of retirement to play for the hated Philadelphia Eagles. Aikman, now a Fox color analyst who will be in the booth for today's Vikings-Packers game, said nothing he can recall is quite like this homecoming.

All eyes were on Michael Vick -- for all of six plays. Playing his first NFL game since his release from prison, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback got a standing ovation from the home crowd, avoided any ugly protests and completed four passes for 19 yards. "It's been a long journey for me," Vick said. "I just want to do it right this time around." Though his minutes were limited Thursday night, Vick was ready to take on any assignment. He played quarterback, ran the Wildcat formation, even lined up at wide receiver and completed a pass right-handed.

Michael Vick will make his Eagles debut in an exhibition game in Philadelphia on Thursday night. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback hasn't played in an NFL game since Dec. 31, 2006, with the Atlanta Falcons -- against the Eagles on the same field. "I can only go off what I've seen in practice and it looks like he's moving around pretty good," Coach Andy Reid said. "Realistically, it's been two years. We'll see how it works out. We'll give him a couple shots in there and see what he can do."

Today's New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles game was made possible by a coach who was set up to fail. Midway through the season, he lost his best player for good, his team began losing, the city began grumbling, his job came into question and everything was on the verge of collapse. All those forecasts about making the playoffs died quickly, like a New Year's resolution to hit the gym. Andy Reid found a way, though. The better ones do.

There were some raised eyebrows when Andy Reid announced he was starting quarterback Donovan McNabb in Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons even though McNabb had been out eight weeks because of a broken ankle. Bad move? Never doubt Reid. Not this season. The Philadelphia coach again made the right move as McNabb led the Eagles to a 20-6 victory.

PHILADELPHIA -- Andy Reid is digging in. The Philadelphia Eagles coach insisted he will not resign Friday, a day after a judge sentenced Reid's two sons to prison and likened his home to a "drug emporium." Asked whether he intended to stay on the job, a steely-eyed Reid delivered a stern, one-word answer: "Yes." At least one of his peers thought that may not be the best approach.

With two sons locked in a drug-induced spiral, and a judge having labeled his home a "drug emporium," Andy Reid faces what looks like an incredibly difficult decision: Should he stay or go? The second-worst thing he could do is stay on as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The worst thing he could do is step down.